A CONDENSED HISTORY OF THE EARLY SETTLERS OF CATAWBA COUNTY

  Prepared by Colonel George M. Yoder

  

A history of the inhabitants who first settled in the South Fork Valley around Grace Church, who were the founders and builders of Grace as well their descendants who used to worship at this church since it was created.

This valley was settled by the sturdy Dutch yeomanry who came from the state of Pennsylvania principally and they were the principal builders of Grace Church which was created in the year 1797 or there about. I will commence the sketch first with original date when deed of conveyance was made on this the 14th day of January 1797, and give a condensed history sketch of their, life and character.

John Yoder one of the original trustees, who was a son of Conrad Yoder who left Switzerland and went to Rotterdam in 1751 and there embarked on a sailing vessel for the American continent, landing at Philadelphia in 1751, he then came to this section between the years 1755 and 1760, a single man and in 1762 bought the southern portion of the Henry Weid­ner entry on the waters of Jacob’s Fork river and married a Miss Cline about the year 1762 and settled on the farm. I had the privilege and opportunity of examining an emigrant register, containing the emigrant register of 30,000 emigrants, who had left at Rotterdam from various portions of the Old World and landed at Philadelphia from 1727 to 1777. Before any emigrants could leave the ship they had to take the oath of Allegiance, to the Crown of England, as the king became very jealous of so many emigrants flocking into the American continent. They had to subscribe their names thereto and many of them could scarcely write, as what few could write did it in German and it was generally written very badly. Many could not speak the English language, and what little they did speak was so broken that an Englishman could scarcely under stand. In writing the German language the letter "Y" often resembles the letter "J" of “K”, so I found in the register that in the trans­lation of those names many of them were spelled wrong and beginning with another letter than that of the original. Now Conrad Yoder who the father of John Yoder, whose name appears on the register "Con­rad Koder" living in Philadelphia in 1757. Then I found the name spelled Zoder, Soder, Jedor, Jotter, Yoner, Yetter. I remember yet that in my boyhood days they were called “Yotter” by those German people but now in later years the name throughout the United States is mostly spelled Yoder. So with a great many other names that I found in this register that now in those latter days are spoiled different, which will refer to very often through this historical sketch. Now again to John Yoder the original trustee of the Presbyterian or German Reform, was born in October 1761, and was the first white child born on the Jacob’s s Fork River. He was a farmer by occupation and spoke the German language.

During the Revolutionary War he volunteered as a soldier at the age of 16 into this American Army. But he never got into an engagement as peace was declared between the two nations.  He was married to Mary B. Beib Roop who was raised near Lincolnton on the South Fork river.  She was a German lady and heard the first gun fire at the battle of Ramsauer's Mill, on the morning of the 20th of June, 1780. This marriage took place the year 1790. They both belonged to the German Reformed congre­gation of Grace Church. To them were born the following children: John in 1795, Jacob in 1797, Michael in 1799, who was the father of the writer of this historical sketch. There were several other children that I will not name here at this point. He was the grandfather of G. M. Yoder. He was a surveyor and this he did a great deal. He was ap­pointed by the Legislature, with Mr. Pearson of Burke County, to estab­lish the present line between this and Burke County. He also was a Militia Captain for a long time. He never spent his money in Negro property but always invested in real estate. At his death he owned nearly 1300 acres of land. He was an Elder at Grace Church as well as one of the founders and builders of it. During Rev. Loretz’ administra­tion for a number of years and after Lorentz’ death, when the German Reformed congregation had no regular minister for some fifteen years, he and his family went to St. Paul’s church where Rev. Rogers preached.  Several of his children ware catechised and joined the church there.

About the year 1825 the German Reformed congregation at Grace Church called a meeting to use some effort at getting a regular German Re­formed minister.  They unanimously elected John Yoder as a committee to write to the Pennsylvania Synod for a minister, which he committed and they sent them the Rev. John Fritchery. About the year 1830 or ‘32 Rev. Fritchey wanted to take the negro into the church, which Yoder strenuously opposed. At last the church altar called an election to vote upon the question. When the day came Fritchery and his friends defeated him and his friends. He was opposed to negro equality in the church or elsewhere. So was his brother David of whom I will speak further on.

He was one of all those determined men, as he had passed through an American struggle for liberty and was not afraid to express his opinion on any subject. So after the ballot was announced, and he was defeat­ed, he made the following declaration in the German language:

"Ian hauben de kerchem helfen bauches, and ich stageninde theren cin staungel briggel und slaug dare ars en nager un das do ui gaen wall.”

Translated:     "helped to build this church and will take my stand in the door and the first negro that attempts to do in I will knock him over with a snake pole.”

 Then at this juncture many of the Yoders withdrew from the congre­gation because they did not like Fritchey's negro proclivites and went to the Lutheran church. Fritchery an his friends acquitted to his declaration and did not attempt to force the negro question any further and he did not attempt to come into the church building until after his death which occurred on the 31st day of December, 1835. He was buried at Grace church on the first day of January 1836, in his 72nd year, and Rev. Fritchery preached his funeral. The text was from John’s gospel, 10th chapter and 1-2-3 verses. He was a faithful Christian passed away. His wife survived him about six years and was buried at Grace church and John Crawford preached her funeral.

 I will next speak of John Hefner, the other trustee on the Lutheran side. I cannot say much about the life and character of him, as he lived at such a remote age of the writer’s birth. He may have been one of the original Elders of the Lutheran congregation, first organ­ized by John G. Arndt at Grace church. He lived somewhere not far from that noted place called Hog Hill. I cannot tell whom he married or where she was buried.

Now I shall speak of the witnesses who witnessed the deed, Martin Coulter and David Shuford. The deed was recorded by the oath of Mar­tin Coulter, the son of Martin Coulter who lived on the east side of the South Fork where he lived on a large plantation. His children were Martin, Phillip, John and one daughter.

Martin was a Revolutionary soldier and after peace was restored he married a Miss Shitel and settled on the old homestead. They had three sons and several daughters. He too, I think, was an elder of the German Reformed congregation at Grace church. He and his wife are both buried at Grace church. His son, John, born Feby. 8, 1813, was a very prominent man. He taught school and surveyed. He was sheriff of Lincoln county for a number of years, while the sheriff was elected by the magistrates. He was the secretary for a long time of the Ger­man Reformed congregation. He was the first chairman and superintend­ent of the free school system far Catawba County. He married Miss Barbara Ramseur

Elkanah Coulter was a farmer by occupation. He was the first register elected by the Magistrate Court at the first court assembled at Mathias Barringer's - in March 1843, and served in that capacity for a number of years and also the successor of G. P. Shuford as superintentent of the free school system for Catawba county. He was also an elder at Grace church far the German Reformed congregation Jany. 5th 1831 to 1835. He had married Melinda Wilson and had but one daughter who married T. L. love, the Lieutenant Colonel of the 28th Regiment of N.C. Troops and was buried at Grace Church.

I will now speak of David Shuford, the other witness of the deed of conveyance. He was the youngest son of John Shuford, the original pioneer Shuford to this section of the County, who came here between the years of 1766 and 1770. Now in the Register of 30,000 immigrants, the name of “Shuford” is not found. The names are now changed to Shu­ford. In the spring of 1770, there came one John Moore through the South Fork Valley, claiming that he was from the British Army. He raised about 6 miles southeast of Lincolnton He forced many to take the oath of allegiance to the crown of England. But David Shuford never did take the oath, while many of his neighbors did, which made him very popular alter peace was restored between the two nations. After peace was made he married a Miss Ramseur. He represented Lin­coln county in the Senate of North Carolina in the years 1806, 1812, 1813, 1815, 1816, and 1820. At this time the Legislature was elected annually up to 1835 when the State constitution was amended. He also was one of the founders and builders of Grace Church. He had lived on the South Fork on that portion of land he inherited from his father ‘ s real estate. He died and was buried at the old family grave yard on the T. R. Whitener farm now. His children were as follows: George, Maxwell, David, and three daughters.

George first married Mary Baker, December 3, 1831, and second, he mar­ried Anne E. Baker Oct. 23, 1833. He was magistrate for a long time and for many years a member of the County Court of Catawba County. He was Superintendent of the Free School system for Catawba County and had been a Militia captain for several years and was also an Elder of the German Reformed congregation of Grace Church. When he died, he was buried at Grace Church. One daughter married John Jarrett, one David Robinson, one Noah Hoyle, and Maxwell the widow Rhoney.

Next I will speak of Samuel Jarrett from whom the purchase of the land was made for the site of Grace Church, and the deed executed on the 14th day of January 1797. The Jarretts came here from Rowan county and originally from the state of Pennsylvania. They were of German descent I suppose that he was the son of Daniel Jarrett because he made a deed of conveyance to Samuel Jarrett in 1774. He had a brother by the name of Phillip and a sister who married Michael Speagle. Samuel Jarrett married Susan Weaver, a daughter of Jacob Weaver who came to this country from Germany before the Revolutionary war and settled somewhere about where Startown is now. He was an old German­ school teacher. He bought the Houk farm adjoining the lands of J ohn Yoder and settled on the place where Solomon Weaver used to live. Their children ware John, Jacob and three daughters. John lived on the old farm until he married Miss Elizabeth Hildebrand July 26, 1819, then went to Yancy County, N. C. Jacob got a portion of land that Samuel got with his wife. This land is now owned by Eli Leonard. The Samuel Jarrett land was a portion of the Frohawks' thousand acre entry joining the Grace church land. His daughter, Mary Jarrett, married John Hartzoke on Jany. 19th, 1830. John was a son of Paul Hartzoke and his mother was Julin Hasselberger. He was elected an elder of the Lutheran congregation of Grace church durin the admin­istration of Rev. P. C. Henkel about the year 1848 which position he held for many years until he died and was buried at Grace church. The daughter married Michael Speagle and settled not far from George L. Reinhardt’s on a portion of the Frohawk entry. He sold this farm to John Jarrett and moved near where Genis Ramseur now lives and was projenitor of the Speagle family in Catawba County. Phillip jarrett was the first man to be buried in the grave yard at Grace church. He was a single man.

Next I will speak of Daniel Conrad, He married Hannah Martin on April 3, 1801. His mother was a Shuford. His farm lay about a half a mile east of the church and joining the church land and I think a portion of the Frohawk entry. He did the carpenter work with Francis Rink at Grace church. He represented Lincoln county in the lower house of N. C. Legislature in 1819, 1820, 1822, 1823, 1824, 1825, 1827, 1833. He served as a constable for a long time. He also was an Elder at Grace church in the German Reformed congregation, and is buried in the grave yard there with his wife. He had two sons, Logan and David, and two daughters.

I will now speak of John Jar rett, who came from Rowan county near Salisbury, prior to the erection of Grace church, and bought a por­tion of the Frohawk entry, which joined the church land and settled about half a mile west of the church. He was a Lutheran and a founder and builder of the church. He married Elizabeth Fisher of Rowan county who was a sister of the last Charles Fisher who represented this Congressional District in Congress in 1846 Their children were as follows: John, Daniel, Jonas, Elias, Jacob, Absalom, and one daughter.

John married Davis Shuford’s daughter, Claressy Shuford, on August 15, 1817 and went to Missouri. Daniel died a bachelor at Morganton, N. C. Jonas married Catherine, the daughter of his Uncle Samuel, whose mother was a Shiremon, on Sept. 3rd, 1819. Elias married Samuel Lantz’ daughter. In 1835, when Rev. Adam Miller organized the congre­gation at Grace church, he was elected the secretary of the congrega­tion and in that capacity he served a long time. He settled where A. K. Finger now lives and then sold this farm to Paul Anthony and he gave it to his daughter, Selena, who married Finger. He was a tinner by trade. He went to Iowa. Jacob married Mary Mauney on May 17, 1841, and lived on the old homestead. In 1835, he was elected as Trustee of the Lutheran congregation as the successor of John Heffner, one of the original trustees, which position he held until about 1857. Absolom married Michael Shiremon's daughter, Polly, Feb. 26, 1829, and went west. The daughter Petcy Jarrett married Samuel Peterson, July 29, 1318, an uncle of the late Rev. Jesse Peterson. He then in his old days wont to Ironton, Missouri, where his daughter lived.

Next I will speak of Samuel Jarrett,. a brother of John Jarrett, who also came from Rowan a single man and married a Miss Polly Shireman, Feby. 26th, 1827; among others wore Samuel and George Jarrett, who ware twin brothers, and who married sisters by the name of Carpenter. Samuel for a long time lived in Dallas: Gaston county, and served there as County Treasurer, then afterward moved to Newton. He died very suddenly in Newton and was buried there. George was also a car­penter by trade and bought the farm there D. H. Shuford now lives from Daniel Conrad and built that old house, when he left for Iowa. Daniel Lock bought the tract and when he left Daniel Shuford bought it. Daniel Conrad or Samuel Jarrott bought it from John Speagle as he used to live there. George Jarrett acted as secretary for a long time for the Lutheran congregation at Grace church. Samuel Jarrett and his wife were also buried at the grave yard at Grace church and also some of his children.

Next I will speak about the Speagle family. The pioneer came from Pennsylvania and was of Dutch descent. I cannot tell what his given name as but he bought a portion of the Frohawk entry and settled on the farm now owned by David C. Shuford and their children (he mar­ried Mary Lence on Aug. 18th, 1805) were: John, Daniel, Davault, Michael and perhaps some daughters. John married a Miss Lentz and settled on the lands which David Shuford now owns and was a member of the Lutheran church and a founder and builder of it. He went West.

David, the second son, married a Miss Lentz and settled on the old farm where o David H. Shuford lived. He also was a member of the con­gregation at Grace church. He sold his farm either to David Shuford or his father. He also left for the West.

Davault married Hannah Lentz, August 1, 1803, and settled on the por­tion of land now owned by Andrew L. Yoder. He also was a member of the congregation at Grace church. He sold his farm either to Waitzel or John Hasselberger and went West.

Michael married a Miss Jarrett as before stated. I think that the old pioneer Speagle and his wife were burled on the old homestead as there is an old grave yard beyond the little creek on the hillside near Thessalonica Baptist church, where perhaps a dozen or more people are buried.

I will now speak of David Yoder. He was a son of Conrad Yoder and a brother of John Yoder. He was by trade a stone mason. He married Elizabeth Reib, a sister of Yoder's wife, and settled on the por­tion of land that he received from his father, near where the John Yoder now the place now owned by F. A. Yoder. He sold this farm to John Yoder and George Sumney, intending to move to Georgia.

He went and explored some portion of Georgia before moving and did not like the country and came back and bought the farm where Andrew L. Yoder now lives from Jacob Shuford and Jacob Shuford bought it for himself from Adderholt, the son-in-law of John Hasselberger. This farm given to Adderholt’s wife by her father, John Hasselberger. Hasselberger got it from Davault Speagle and Speagle from Wetzel. It was also a portion of the Frohawk thousand acre track. The children were ne arly all born at the original homestead which were Conrad, David, Eli, Solomon, Andrew and four daughters.

Conrad was a soldier in the War of 1812; so was Adolphus and at the close of this war Adolphus entered the regular army and all traces of him were lost. Conrad, after the war closed, went to his uncle Jacob, in the state of Indiana where he married one of his daughters. From there he went to Missouri, Andrus county, where he died at about the age of 88.

David married Ruth Wilson on Jany. 16, 1827 and lived on the lands that his wife inherited from her father. He was a member of the Baptist and died in his 97th year and was buried at Thessalonica. Eli married Elizabeth Dotter on July 15, 1834 and first settled where Henry Sigmon now lives, then sold out and went to Tennessee.

Solomon married Sallie Seagle on Sept. 25th, 1832. Her mother was an Ashabramner. They had twelve children. Among them is David A. Yoder, an Elder at Grace church and one of the Superintendents of the Sunday School there. The original David was a member of the German Reformed congregation at Grace Church and, when Rev. Fritchery brought up the negro question as before stated, left the congregation and never re­turned. He was a genius. He built a corn mill on his original farm on the branch that ran through the farm. He also connected to this a machine to dress flax.

Andrew L. Yoder married Anna Kistler, Aug. 1, 1837, daughter of Henry Kistler, whose mother was also an Ashabranner. They had a large fami­ly. He and his family were all Lutherans. He and his wife are living yet, the oldest couple in Catawba county. They have been married over sixty years and are both past 88 years old. The daughters never married.

I will next speak of Daniel, the son of John Shuford. He was in the battle at Ramseur’s Mill and was wounded in the hip. After peace was restored he married a Miss Ramseur and settled on the old homestead, now owned by L. R. Whitener. Their children were Henry, Daniel, David, Ephraim, John, Solomon and several daughters.

Henry married a Warlick, I think, and went to Tennessee in 1812. Daniel married David Robinson’s daughter. David married Rhoda Coulter, dau­ghter of Martin Coulter, and settled on the Speagle place. Their child­ren were two sons and one daughter. Daniel C. Shuford is one of them. He married Rosannah Kistler, Oct. 5, 1841, daughter of Henry Kistler, as before said in the Yoder family. He had four children, D. H. Shu­ford, Daniel Shuford, Rhoda and Mary Ann. He joined the Lutheran church and was the secretary after George Jarrett’s successor, in which capa­city he served until 1866 when he was elected an Elder of the congrega­tion and served until 1892. David, his son, lives on the old Speagle tract as before said. Daniel married Jacob Mosteller’s daughter and moved to Burke county and was drowned in the Catawba river while sein­ing for fish.

Mary Ann married Pink Shuford and Rhoda married John W. Helton.

The other son of David Shuford went to Yancy County, N.C. The daughter married Samuel Blackburn and died at the birth of her fourth child. Ephraim married a Hoyle, the daughter of Jacob Hoyle. Of this family I will speak later on.

John Shuford married Betsy Robinson, Aug. 22, 1819, and vent to Tenn­essee but returned and settled on that portion of land inherited from his father, which is now known as the A. G. Corpening farm Caldwell county, and a descendent of Henry Weidner. They had the following children: John, Melanchton, George, Cormilla and Ann Corpening. John Shuford was elected an Elder at Grace Church in 1835, when Adam Miller organized a congregation there and served until Miller withdrew from the Tennessee Synod and went with him. Then he came back to the Tennessee Synod again. He and his wife are both buried in the graveyard at Grace Church.

Albert G. Corpening, his son-in-law, also connected himself to this congregation under the Henkle administration and in 1857 was elected the Trustee of the congregation and in 1866 was elected as one of the Elders, under Dr. A. Fox’s administration, and served until his death which occurred about 1890. He was one of the first County Commissioners elected by the people under the new constitution and helped to lay off the County into Townships. He also served as a magistrate for a number of years. Then about the year 1886 he again was elected a County Com­missioner. He was in the Civil War, and received a slight wound in the back of his neck. He and his wife are both buried in the grave yard at Grace Church.

Solomon never married and lived at the old homestead until he died. One daughter married a Mr. Hines, a Hessian, and lived in Gaston county. One married a Mr. Rhyne and also lived in Gaston county. Another married a Sliggle and one Michael Shireman. Both moved westward.

Next I will speak of the Gautner family. The farm where they lived was entered by a man by the name of Wilkins about the year 1750, joining the John Shuford land on the north and on the west the Frohawk entry, which embraced a large scope of land, about 600 or 700 acres. The McCorkle, S. T. Wilfong, Q. A. Wilfong, Ralph Smith and William Reinhardt farms. Wilkins sold it to Clark and Clark to Greggs and Greggs to James Robinson, and he sold it to Gautner, and Gautnecr to John Wilfong, Sr., in 1805 and he gave it to his son John.

Gautner had three children to my recollection, two Sons, Martin and Jacob, and a daughter. Martin married Nicholas Fry's daughter and settled on Hop Creek where he erected a saw mill. He then sold it to a Mr. Rider and wont west. Rider sold it to Lewis Warlick and he gave it to his son, Jesse Killian.

The home farm was divided between Jacob and the daughter. The daughter married Josiah Angel who came from Dinwiddie County, Va., and settled on her portion of land. They had three sons, John, Joe, Absalom and Nancy. She had married Michael Propst whose mother was Bostian Khein's daughter. He was a soldier of the war of 1812. He lives on her portion of land which was the western part of the tract where Dolph Smith now lives joining the Frohawk entry. He was a member of the Lutheran’ congregation and is buried in that graveyard. So is his wife. They had a large family of children which are scattered in different sec­tions. Jacob sold his portion to John Wilfong, as aforesaid, and went to Missouri where his brother Martin had gone.

S. T. Wilfong married Bell Gill, who was born in Columbia, S. C. and has three sons and a daughter living. The daughter married W. B. Gaither, a lawyer, and lives in Newton. Sumney married Theodore Ram­seur 's daughter, Mary, arid lives on the farm. Walter is machinist.  S. T. Wilfong represented Catawba County in the Legislature about 1900.He is one of the present Elders in the German Reformed congregation at Grace Church. He also has acted as a superintendent of the Sunday School for a number of years. He was a soldier in the Civil War and lost his right arm. By occupation he is a farmer.

Q. A. Wilfong married Alice Shuford, a sister of A. A. Shuford of Hickory, and has three children living. The daughter married R. L. Shuford. He is a member of the German Reformed Church and a Trustee at Grace church.

Next I will speak of John Hasselberger, one of the founders and build­ers of’ Grace church. He was a Dutchman and came to this section of the country after the Revolutionary War. He married the late widow of Jacob Lutz - her maiden name was Schub or Schoob - and bought a large tract of land on the South Fork. I think it was a portion of the Frohawk entry, and settled near where David Lore now lives. They had three daughters. The oldest one married Paul Hartzoke, the father of the Hartzokes in this county, and settled where Pinkney Dellinger now lives, where Hazzelberger had built a mill. He had a large fami­ly of children which are scattered in different sections. Susanna the second daughter, married George Lohr whose father came from Pennsyl­vania to Roan county and settled not far from Trinity church. His mother was a Miss Seagle. He was a farmer by occupation. Seagle elected an Elder in 1835, when Adam Miller reorganized the Luther­an congregation at Grace church, which position he held until he died. Their children were John, Adam, Valentine, Ephraim, Daniel, David, and, two daughters, Betsy and Rhoda.

John and Andrew married Hedricks and left no issue. John, after mar­riage, bought the Reuben Hoyle farm, Andrew the Humphrey Hoyle farm. Valentine married a Shenkel from Virginia, and had five children; George, John, James, Susan, Angelina. Valentine had settled on the Henry Gross place that Abel Havner had bought and sold it to Lohr. Daniel married Miss Hunt from Bristol Tenn., and bought the George Jarrett farm which he sold to Daniel C. Shuford and went to Tennessee. Ephraim married Mary Leonard, daughter of Andred Leonard.

David married a sister of Valentine’s wife, and settled on the old farm. He was the Lutheran secretary at Grace church a long time, also superintendent of the Sunday School. They had only two children, Betsey married Andrew Killian. Rhoda married a Mr. Keener of Tennessee and moved there.

The last girl of John Hasselberger married a Mr. Aderholt and had first settled on the farm where Andrew Yoder now lives, then sold this farm and went west. John Hasselberger's second wife was Magdalena Reib, with whom he had no children. He and both of his wives are buried in the graveyard on the Andrew Yoder farm, where there are a great many persons buried.

Now I will say something about David Robinson and his family. David Robinson was a son of the original James Robinson, who came from Lan­caster County, S. C., to this section sometime perhaps before 1755. He married Jennie .......... and settled near the Fish-Dam Ford on the South Fork river where he had a large plantation joining the Has­selberger land on the North and Witherow on the South, on the West the Reinhardt lands. He represented Lincoln county in the Legisla­ture of 1796 and 1797 and lived there prior to the erection of Grace church, and I suppose was one of the founders and builders of Grace Church. He had three sons and three daughters. Jesse, the oldest son, married, I think, a Sherrill, and lived for a time on that por­tion of land that he had inherited from his father. Then leaving this farm to his son, Aaron he bought the Henry Summerrow farm on Jacob’s Fork River in the Mull settlement which Henry Weidner gave to his daughter who had married Summerow and settled there until he died. David, the second son, married a Wilson. He was the fath­er of the late Alfred Robinson, and grandfather to D. W. Robinson, a lawyer of Lincolnton. James, the third son, sold his share of the land and went West.

One daughter married Max Wilson. One Daniel Shuford married Hannah Robinson Sept. 14, 1819. Polly Robinson married Peter Seacoch Jan. 1, 1807. None of them left any offspring.

Now I will speak of the Reinhardt family who were also here prior to the erection of Grace Church. I think the original Reinhardt’s name was Conrad. He bought this land from Witherrow when he came here from Pennsylvania. George, his son, was born in Pennsylvania and was a small boy then. This farm is about two miles South East of Grace Church and joins the Anthony lands. George married Barbara Gross daughter of’ John Gross, and they had two eons, Henry and Jacob. They were divided in church membership. His wife was a Lutheran -while he and his sons belonged to the Reformed congregation. Henry married Elizabeth Finger, Dec. 14, 1839, and had several daughters and one living son. He was an Elder of the German Reformed congre­gation, at Grace church. John, his son, married Ellen, the daughter of Jacob J. Sigmon. Henry’s daughter, Martha Jane, married W. L. Cochran and they went to the State of’ Washington. Alice married Wash Ramsaur and they also went to the same place. Jacob married a lady, I think, in Lincolnton at lease he died there.

Henry Gross, a brother of’ George Reinhardt's wife, lived where Valen­tine Lore lived. He was a gunsmith by trade and sold this farm to Abel Hefner and went West. He also was a Lutheran.

Next I will speak of Michael Yoder. He was a son of John Yoder and was born in 1798. His wife died when he was only married about seven years. They had two living children. He connected himself to the Lutheran congregation at Grace church about 1857. His children were G. M. Yoder and Cyrus Yoder. G. M. Yoder had first connected him­self with the congregation at Zion’s church after his father and brother had connected themselves to the church at about the age of twenty. He was born in 1826, and married Rebecca Herman in the year 1851, then to E. R. Yoder. He was in his younger days a school teacher, and was elected a militia captain when he was about twenty years old. Then he was appointed a magistrate in the year 1855, which posi­tion he holds now. He was elected the Colonel of the Militia of Catawba County in 1855, which position he held for three years. In 1856 he was appointed the Clerk and Master in Equity Court for Cataw­ba County which position he hold till 1862, when he resigned and entered the Confederate Army as a private but was soon elevated to Third Lieutenant. He also was for sever al years one of the members of the County Court for Catawba County. He was elected in 1882 as a County Co missioner for two years. He was elected a County Surveyor and also Coroner. He was an assistant Census Taker in 1870. Then in 1880 he was the principal Census Taker for Jacob’s Fork Township, then in 1890 he again assisted D. Ramsaur, his son-in-law. In 1866 he was elected an Elder at Grace church during the administration of Dr. A. J. Fox, which position he held until 1892, when his son Fran­cis, was elected in his place and is now one of the Elders, and his eon, Colon, is the Secretary. His second wife is E. E. Yoder.

Cyrus married Elizabeth Leonard, daughter of Andrew Leonard and had three sons: Leonadas, Peter, and Furwick. Peter is now one of the Deacons. His father was conscripted in the late war and belonged to the State Reserves and was in the Battle at Kinston when General Foster made that raid on Goldsboro. He was at last captured at Camp Vance by that notorious Colonel Kirk and was put in prison near Chica­go where he died.

I will now speak of Daniel B. Whitener. He was born about the 1784. He was the son of Benjamin Whitener. He was a soldier in the War of 1812 under General Jackson. After peace was proclaimed he married Catherine Sigmon June 3, 1815 - by Phillip Whitenor. She lived near St. John’s church - her mother was Rachael Shuffar. He settled on the land his father gave him. He was a member of Grace church as well as his wife. They were Lutherans. They had two sons and three daughters. Mahala married Daniel Jarrett, April 20, 1841, and after their marriage bought a piece or land from Jacob Jarrett about a mile north of the church where he had settled. He was a house carpenter by trade and had three sons and six daughters. Obed, his son, was a Deacon for several years in the Lutheran congregation. He and his wife died at Hickory but were buried in the grave yard at Grace church. The eldest daughter, Linnie, married Win. Tipps and went to Georgia.  Franklin, the oldest son of Daniel Whitener, married Sallie Leonard, and had three sons and several daughters.

Logan the youngest son and brother of Franklin, married Clara Leonard, a daughter of Andrew Leonard, whose mother was Catherine Rhodes, and had all daughters.

Next I will speak of Daniel Leonard, married July 1, 1826, who was a member of the Lutheran congregation at Grace church since the admin­istration of Adam Miller. He was a son of Philip Leonard, who married Elizabeth Blackburn and bought the farm of Jacob Anthony — a Methodist preacher -- near Wesley Chapel, where he lived until his death. He had three sons, Eli, Monroe and Daniel, and four daughters. He was also one of the Wardens of the paupers of Catawba County before the war. He and his wife are both buried at Grace.

Andrew Leonard was a brother of Daniel Leonard. He also was a member of the Lutheran congregation at Grace church for a number of years. He married Catherine Rhodes Feby. 25, 1822, daughter of the original Rhodes of South Fork River, who was Tunkard preacher. After his marriage to this daughter, he first settled on the lands now owned by Henry Cansler and John Cansler. He sold this farm to their father, Henry, for $1000 and then bought a farm near Blackburn where Joe Houser now lives. The children are nearly all dead. They both were buried at Grace church.

Now I will speak of Capt. F. R. Beck. He came to this section about 1860 from Davidson county, N. C., and bought the Cany Leonard farm which was a part of the Andrew Leonard tract. He married Sophia leach in Davidson county. He is of the Dutch descent. He was a Militia Captain for a long time. He also represented this congregation in several sessions of Synod. He has only two living children. He was a Post Master a long time for Jacob's Fork post-office.

George Huffman was a son of Maj. George Huffman near Conover. He mar­ried Miss Polly Hunsucker near St. John’s church. After marriage he settled on the lands he bought near Sardis Lutheran church. He was a mem­ber of the German Reformed congregation at Grace church and was also an Elder for several years before he died. He was a Militia Captain for many years, also a magistrate when he died, and was buried at Wesley  Chapal. His wife is still living yet. They had several sons daughters.

L--is Warlick and family are also members of the German Reformed congregation at Grace church. He was one of the founders and builders of the original house of worship. He married a Miss ........... Hoyle, and after his marriage he settled on Pott's creek not far from Plateau, and here he built a mill, which was always known as Warlick’s Mill. They had the following children: John, Philip, Adslam, Solomon, Peter and David, and two daughters. John married Elizabeth Baker April 30, 1819; Philip married Sally Baker Oct. 21, 1823, daughters of John Baker - and moved to Burke County. Absalom and David also married sisters, daughters of George Seitz, whose mother was & Barger. David lived on the old homestead and was a local Methodist minister. Solomon married Barbara War-lick and settled on the South Fork River near where the State road crosses the river. He had a large family. The children are scattered in different sections of the county. He was an Elder of the German Reformed church. He and his wife are buried at Grace church. Peter had married Jany. 6, 1826, Catherine Shuford, daughter of Philip Shuford whose mother was an Abernathy. After his marriage he settled on Jacob’s Fork at the State Ford. They also were German Reformed members at Grace Church. Their children are scattered too. He and his wife are buried at Grace church. Peter Warlick married on Jany. 6, 1826, Catherine Shuford, daughter of Phillip Shuford, whose mother was an Abernathy. After his marriage he settled on Jacob’s Fork at the State Ford. They also were German Re­formed members of’ Grace Church. Their children are scattered too. He and his wife are buried at Grace Church.

Phillip Shuford was the son of Martin Shuford and Anna Maria, m. Feby. 9, 1807. Martin was killed in the Battle at Ramsaur‘s Mill, June 20th, 1780. He was born after his father was killed. He married Catherine Abernathy, a sister of Turner Abernathy, the father of Prof. R. L. Abernathy After his marriage he bought a farm from Solomon Deitz, on Pott's creek now known as the James Keever farm. Here he raised a large family. Henry Ramseur’s, Caney Ramseur‘s, Peter War­lick’s and Harrison Wilson’s wives were born on this farm. Then he sold this farm to John Yoder, Jr., and John Yoder sold it to Rufus Cobb and Rufus Cobb to James Keener and it is now owned by Charles Scronce. Here his first wife died. I think they are both buried at Grace Church.

Turner Abernethy was also a member of the German Reformed church. He married Oct. 2, 1821, Fannie Whitener, daughter of Benjamin Whitener, who was the mother of Prof. R. L. Abernethy of Happy Home, Rutherford College, and when the Methodists built Wesley Chapel he left that church and joined the Methodist Church.

Henry Cansler, the father of John J. and Henry Cansler, was also a member of the Lutheran congregation at Grace Church. He was born and raised near Rozze’s Ferry, Gaston County now. He came to this section of the county and bought Andrew Leonard’s farm, for which he paid $1800.00. He married Miss Mary Hinson for his second wife, on Oct. 25, 1840 and had three sons and several daughters. The daughter of the first wife married Cany Lawrence near Catawba Station. One dau­ghter married Gus Bezznick, a Methodist minister and went to Arkansas, he and his wife were both buried at Grace Church,

I will now speak of Mathew McCaslin who was a member of the Lutheran congregation at Grace church for a long time. His father died when he and William McCaslin were small children. Then the widow married a Mr. Dotter, a brother to Michael Rudisill's wife. I don’t know what her maiden name was. After this marriage Dotter moved to Indiana, I think, and they both died there shortly afterwards, perhaps several years. Then Michael Rudisill went after the children and back to North Carolina. There were three Dotter children, David, Betsey, and another daughter. Mathew married one of Tommy Wilson’s daughters who was living on Pott’s Creek, and his farm joined the Frohawk entry, and after marriage he settled on that portion of land that fell to his wife’s lot, where he lived until they both died, and were buried at Grace church graveyard. He was a house carpenter by trade. They had three sons and two daughters. One daughter married Daniel A. Yoder, one Andrew Fulbright and the sons are all dead. William, his son, left one offspring. Taylor had one son and he married Jacob Rudisill’s daughter near Maiden.

John Cansler also was a member at Grace church for a long time. He was a brother of Henry Cansler , and was born and raised near Rozzel’s Ferry the Catawba River Gaston County, N. C. He married Lucinda Brown, daughter of Absalom Brown near Salem Church and then settled on the Anthony Shull place, that her father had bought and given her. This land lies on Pott’s Creek and joins Jacob Anthony’s land and is about 2 miles south of the church. They had five sons and two daughters. Alfred, the oldest son, was killed by lightning while stacking hay. George married a Miss Quickel. Abel married and went west. James is a bachelor and lives in South Carolina. Adolphus was married twice. The last time to the Rev. Adam Miller 's daughter and lives on his old homestead. They are all Lutherans. They are both buried at Salem church.

John Heavener and his wife were also members of’ the Lutheran congre­gation at Grace church. He had married Sarah Rudisill and settled on Pott’s Crock. His farm joined the Cansler land. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. He had a pretty large family which are scattered in differ­ent parts of the county. Part of the children and grandchildren belong to the same congregation.

Jacob Shuford, a brother of Philip Shuford, son of Martin Shuford who was killed in the battle of Ramseur's Mill on the morning of the 20th of June 1780, was also a member of the German Reformed congregation at Grace church. He married a Miss Hoyle and settled on the lands where his father had lived, now owned by H. L. Shuford, and had a large fam­ily. His sons and daughters also belonged to the same congregation. After awhile he moved to his farm on Lyle’s Creek. Their children were: John, who had first married a Lawrence and one of his sons became a prominent German minister. Abel married Adeline Perkins; Jacob - Cath­erine Baker; one of his sons is also a German Reformed minister. Eli married a Miss Collins; Andrew, a Miss Collins; Elkanah, a Miss Martin. One daughter married John Smyre, one Henry Cansler, one Burt Allen and one Lawson Reinhardt. These families and descendants are scattered in different States and sections of the Country.

Andrew Yoder was also a member of the Lutheran congregation at Grace church. He and his wife are both buried there. Their children are:

Luther, John, Julius, Loy, Julia and Minta.

John Fry was also a member of’ the German Reformed congregation at this place. He was a son of George Fry and married Philip Coulter ‘s daugh­ter, and settled on the farm where Jesse Robinson once lived, near the old State Ford on the South Fork, opposite S. T. Wilfong ‘s farm. Their children were Abel, who married Betsey Propst; Henry, a Ward; Martin, Betsy Arney, Joe, Daniel Coulter's daughter; Clara, Abe Propst and Harriett, Eli Coulter. There were several sons and daughters. He and his wife ware buried at Salem church in Lincoln County.

Henry Whitener, son of Daniel Whitener, was also a member of the German Reformed congregation at Grace church. He married a Miss Hoyle and has three children living. They are L. P. Whitener, Peter and Susan.

LeRoy Whitener had married Martha, the daughter of George Shuford, and she died. Then he married John Murrill's widow and lives in Hickory. He has no children. He was a County Commissioner for several years and represented Catawba county twice in the Legislature and was an Elder at Grace church in the German Reformed congregation.

Peter Whitener, his brother married Catherine, daughter of George Shu­ford. They were descendants of Conrad Yoder. He served as a commissioner for several years. He was in the late war and lost his right leg. They had several sons and daughters. Claude married Hose Yount's daughter whose mother was a Killian. Susan married Eli Rhine, a Methodist. He was a house carpenter by trade and died seven years ago, leaving several sons and daughters • Henry Whitener and wife are buried at the Robinson grave yard.

Samuel Blackburn married Nov. 16, 1841, Elizabeth Shuford, a sister of Daniel C. Shuford, about 50 years ago, and settled on the James Robin­son farm at the Fish Dam Ford on the South Fork river which he bought, and then connected himself with the German Reformed congregation at Grace church over 50 years ago. At the birth of the 4th child his first wife died. Then he married Amanda the daughter of Jacob Shuford. Their children were: Virginia, who married John Warlick; Rhoda, Milton Ramseur, Georgia, Joe Fry, who went to Texas. John is in Arkan­sas; Emma James Wilfong, Alice, George Herman, Carrie, a Mr. Boyd, Willie, a Miss Ervin, Ed, a Miss Boyd. Sam, Jim and Jule are single; Luella, Osborne Whisnant. He was an Elder at Grace church for some time the German Reformed congregation. He was a farmer by occupa­tion. He and his wives are buried at Grace church.

I forgot to speak about David Detter and his sister under the head of the Mathew McCaslin family. He was a half-brother of his. He mar­ried Daniel Coulter's daughter and after this marriage he settled as a tenant on the Gautner place, owned by John Wilfond, now by S. T. Wilfond, where he lived a number of pears, and during this time he con nected himself with the Lutheran congregation at Grace church for a number of years until he moved to Cabarrus county, where his son-in law lived and died. His sister then was staying with Eli Yoder, who had married his sister Elizabeth, and she then married the Rev. Jesse Peterson, a Lutheran minister, and then he moved near Dallas, Gaston county, where he had a charge, and preached there all his life. He was a minister perhaps over fifty yearn.

I will now give a historical sketch of Frederick Summey. He came to this section prior to the Revolutionary War and we have nothing of any traditionary history of his life and character and hence the writer can give but a short sketch of his life. He married Plantnea Whitener, daughter of Michael Whitener, and sister of Benjamin Whitener. Ha had lived on the place where D. H. Ramseur now lives. After this marriage he settled on a large farm on the South Fork, now known the John Lore farm about three miles southeast of Grace church. His children were four daughters that the writer knows of, and the writer is decidedly of the opinion that he had a son by the name of Jacob, who bought the Rock House farm from Henry Whitener, Jr, for $3,000.00. Ho had a son by the \name of George. The Bejnamin White­ner children always called him Cousin George. If he was the child of Frederick and Plantena Sumney - as she was a sister of the Benjamin Whitener.

Jacob Sumney, July 26, 1785, married the widow of martin Shuford, who was killed at the battle of Ramseur's Mill, and the writer has always been told that she had five children who were born on that portion of land that he inherited from his father, John Shuford, now owned by R. L. Shuford. These children wore Martin, Jacob, Philip and two daughters. The writer has already spoken of Jacob and Philip. Here let me digress a little from the main subject to illustrate certain facts. Martin had married a Miss Ramseur and settled in Lincolnton.

He was the sheriff for a long time of Lincolnton county until he was succeeded by John Coulter, if I am not mistaken. His children were: Tommy Shuford of Lincolnton Martin, who had married Lewis Warlick’s daughter, Margaret, and was the father of Pink Shuford and Jacob Kistler's wife, Lovina. Some of his descendants are living about Ashe­ville. There is a prominent lawyer Shuford living there whom Governor Carr had appointed a Judge of the Superior Court. 

Now again to the main subject. Jacob's son, George, as before said, married Betsey Corpening, daughter of Albert Corpening, who had mar­red a Miss Propst and came here from the State of Pennsylvania and had first settled on the waters of Clark’s creek now in Catawba County, then moved to Burke county, now Caldwell county. George and wife had the following children: Alburtus, Jacob, Jones, John, George, Albert, Melanchton, Daniel, Lovina and Ellen. These children are scattered in different portions of the country. The father, mother and some of the children were members of the German Reformed congregation at Grace church. He sold his farm to John Wilfong, his son-­in-law, for a fraction over $6000.00 and went to Flat Rock, Henderson County, N.C. This farm is now owned by James E. Wilfong.

Frederick Sumney’s daughter, Betsy, on July 20, 1803, married David Ramseur, the father of Henry and Alfred Ramseur and others. They were members of the German Reformed congregation at Grace church. Henry was the secretary of the congregation for a long time. Alfred was a Methodist. I will not give a full history of this family now. Anoth­er of Summey's daughters - Susannah - on Dec. 17, 1813, married John Ramseur, Jr. Another married Jacob Hoyle, and he settled on the old Summey homestead. They had the following children: Noah, Reuben, Humphrey and several daughters.

Noah married a sister to George P. Shuford and settled in Cleveland county. H. M. Hoyle, a Methodist minister, is a son of his. There are several that I will not mention. Reuben had married Mariah White­ner, a first cousin of his, and among his children is P. A. Hoyle of Newton who is a very prominent man. He had been the Clerk of the Sup­erior Court eight years, and represented the county in the Legislature.

He was also a county commissioner.

Humphrey had married Betty Dickson, of Cleveland county, and died from the kick of a horse, and is buried at Wesley Chapel. One daughter married Ephraim Shuford, and another a Mr. Gant. I will not give a full history of those families now. The last daughter of Frederick Summey married Solomon Hoyle first, then Big Dan Whitener. Her child­ren were: Philip Hoyle, who was a noted minister of the Methodist church; one daughter had married Aaron Robinson; one Lawson Hill; one Daniel Rhyne; and one Henry Whitener as before stated. The Hoyle family all were originally Lutherans, then German Reforms up to about 1830. When the Methodists made their appearance as said in church history, they connected themselves with that church.

Frederick Summey is buried at the grave yard on Andrew L. Yoder's farm and is the only grave marked with a headstone. His wife, Pante­na, is buried at Grace church. Jacob Hoyle gave this Sumney farm to his sons Reuben and Humphrey. Reuben sold to John Lore and Humphrey to Andrew Lore. Jacob Hoyle's first wife is buried at Grace church. He is buried in Cleveland, where he moved to. He had been a long time a local minister.. The writer did not enter into a lengthy detail of three families, which he could have spun out in full, because he did not think it was necessary.

I will now speak of James Robinson, who came to this section of the country from Lancaster county, S. C., about the year 1760. He entered a large quantity of land near the Rocky Ford on the South Fork and settled there. His children were: John, Harvey, Jesse, David and several others.

I will not give the full history now of this family. He was buried at the Wilson and Robinson grave yard on the old homestead, where the Robinson family is mostly buried. It is about & half a mile east of Peter W. Whitener’s house.

Philip Coulter was another of Martin Coulter’s sons. He had married a Miss Wise, a sister of John Wise, who used to live near Daniel's  and settled on the portion of the original Martin Coulter land. His children were: Daniel, Henry and several other children, He was a farmer by occupation. He and his wife are buried at St. Paul's Church.

George Wilfong had first settled, after marrying the widow Mull, on the Abram Mull farm. Then after a time he settled on the South Fork river where Cany Hunsucker now lives. He was a Major on the American Safe Guard Army Corps. He had the following children: John, Peter and four daughters. John had married Hannah Sigmon; Peter a Miss Hoyle Sallie to Adam Gross; Mary to Daniel Whitener; one to Jacob Cline; Elizabeth to Andrew Hoyle Nov. 28, 1786. He and his wife are buried at St. Paul’s church where the Wilfongs held their member­ship. I will not give a lengthy detail of this large family.

This has changed hands several times. George Wilfong gave it to his son John. John gave it to his daughter - who had married, Dr. Simpson of Lincolnton He sold it to M. M. Wilson and he sold it to Daniel Miller and Cany Hunsucker who married one of Miller's daughters who bought all the shores and is: now the present owner of Abs Miller, who lives on Pott’s Creek, has been a member of the Luth­eran congregation at Grace church for a long time. He had married Fred Miller’s daughter first, then after her death, married John Kistler's daughter.

John W. Propst was a son of Jesse Propst and married Catherine Jarrett and had settled on the old Daniel Hoover place. Both were members of the Lutheran congregation at Grace church. His first wife died, than he married Maggie Kistler and when she died he married Paul Hun­sucker's widow and moved to Hickory. His children are all Lutherans. One daughter married Henry Sigmon, one Louis Rudisill, and one a Mr. Lore. John Propst had bought this farm from David Hoover for $800.00 It joins the land of Jacob Anthony and John Cannier.

Eli Shuford had first settled on the lands which he inherited from his father on the farm now owned by R. L. Shuford. He divided this farm into three parcels; He built the house that A. A. Hoover now lives in before Catawba County was made and moved there. This portion he sold to T. W. Blagburn, and he sold it to Hoover. Then Shuford went to Newton and bought the Anthony Ikard lot where he lived until he went to Texas. . Ho was member of the German Reformed congregation at Grace Church. He sold the other two parcels to Dr. Gunter. Gunter sold to Logas Whitener. Then the other lot where Charles Hoover lives, he sold to James Hoover. He built both of these houses. He also went to Texas.

In the days when Benjamin Whitener and his family flourished, there was a man living about a mile west of him, his farm joining his lands, whose name was Templeton or Tumbleson. The farm is near Blackburn. He sold it to Jacob Shuford when he left the county and he gave it to his son Eli, who sold it to Richard Walker and Walker to Robert Helton, and Helton to Jennings, and then the Dunkel boys had it awhile - and is now owned by Seth Ritchey. This man, had a large family of girls and boys. They and Benjamin Whitener’s family used to have big times together in their sporting operations. The writer has seen the old house many & time in his life.

There was a Wilfong who settled east of the South Fork river. I think his name was George. His wife was always called Sukay - Susannah Surrat - 1803. This tract lay opposite the S. P. Wilfong, Pink Del­linger and Samuel Blackburn’s farms, containing about 340 acres. His son, George, married Alexander Hudson's daugther. By some means he wasted his time by drinking intoxicating drinks and the land had to be sold to discharge debts. John Boyd became the purchaser of it. It is now known as the Sallie Trott farm. This is all I know about this family at present.

The McBee place was originally owned by one James Wilson and he sold it to the McBee who still owns it.